MUSIC: Toto rocks and makes the classics count

While some classic rock bands just can’t re-create that album sound live, Toto prides itself on being a melodic time machine.

The band’s keyboardist and singer David Paich said sounding as close as possible to the record is important.

“I think playing live separates a lot of bands,” he said. “I hear a lot where kids go out and buy a song off of iTunes. Then they go hear the band play and are disappointed in hearing the singing because it doesn’t sound like it does on their iPod.”

Southern California fans will be able to judge for themselves as the band performs with Michael McDonald at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio and Pala Casino Spa Resort this weekend.

Toto, which had big hits with songs such as “Africa,” “Rosanna” and “Hold the Line,” puts a lot of work into its live sound.

“We still rehearse and practice before each tour,” Paich said. “We get together for a week and brush off the cobwebs. In doing a Toto show, you have to stay very focused and alert, because there are curveballs coming from this music. We pride ourselves in our sound.”

It also doesn’t hurt by having three original members, including Paich, guitarist Steve Lukather and keyboardist Steve Porcaro, still rocking out. But even with all the planning and practicing, there is one classic Toto song that is off-limits in rehearsals.

“We don’t rehearse ‘Hold the Line’ anymore,” Paich said. “We’ve played it so many times. It’s kind of our taboo song. We save it for the road. It never lets us down.”

Despite performing together since 1977, countless hits and numerous Grammy Awards, Paich still pinches himself when it comes to the band’s success.

“I’m surprised we had hits at all,” he said. “We planned to have hits, but when you capture lightning in a bottle it takes you by surprise. I’m constantly amazed.”

And part of that amazement is performing in front of crowds. Even after performing thousands of times, it still feels new, according to Paich.

“There is a special communion that goes on with the crowd,” he said. “Peter Gabriel has always described it as recording is one thing, but when you get out to playing with larger audiences they give this energy. It’s the crowd that makes me feel like this is the first time I’ve ever played this.”

Like a game of classic rock “Name That Tune,” most Toto fans only need a few seconds to go from silence to singing along.

“It’s like this initial shock,” Paich said. “When they hear the intro to ‘Rosanna’ or ‘I’ll Be Over You,’ all of a sudden the place comes alive. It’s like a bee hive, you whack the bee hive – in a good way. Everyone gets out of their seats and applauds; it’s almost indescribable.”

In recent years, Paich has seen audiences at live shows expanding to include younger people. While he can attribute some of that to adults passing down the music to the younger generation, there are also countless avenues through which people are discovering the band’s music.

“Some people only know us from ‘Family Guy’ or Justin Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon singing it,” Paich said. “We’ve gotten another chance here through TV and cable. It’s been a second life in renewing these songs to an audience that normally would have never heard them.”